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March 13, 2010

Public eye - Sunday, March 14, 2010

By Ken de la Bastide and Scott Smith

Crystal ball

State Rep. Ron Herrell might have been looking into a crystal ball three years ago.

With Indiana routinely reducing funding to the state’s public schools because of revenue declines in tax revenues, comments made by Herrell in 2007 are ringing true today.

Herrell, D-30th District, said a 1 percent increase in the sales tax will raise $880 million and that Gov. Mitch Daniels wanted to use some of the state surplus to make up the difference.

“What happens when the surplus is gone?” Herrell asked. “Are we looking at raising taxes in the future? I’m taking a cautious approach to the proposal.”

With Indiana ending the use of property tax payments to fund child welfare, public school general funds and transportation, Herrell’s concerned.

“I’m not sure we can afford that with just a 1 percent increase in the sales tax,” Herrell said. “This all sounds good, but can we afford it?”

Send a check

The Public Eye recently received a mailer from Kathy Rokita, the wife of Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita. He is a candidate for the Republican nomination in the 4th Congressional District.

Kathy Rokita wrote that the couple was excited about 2010. They are expecting their second child and will celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary and Todd’s 40th birthday.

“In honor of his milestone birthday, I am asking you now to please join me in wishing my husband, Indiana’s Secretary of State Todd Rokita, a very happy 40th birthday by making a contribution of $40 or more to his campaign fund,” she wrote.

The letter noted the contribution could be made online.

Kathy, one of us at Public Eye will be celebrating a milestone birthday in July. Please send a contribution to our retirement funds.

On the fence

City officials were somewhat taken aback last week when Cedar Crest resident Judy Price vehemently objected to plans to put a dog park on city property next to the east-side subdivision.

City Councilwoman Janie Young, D-3rd, took an interest in the issue partially because Mohr Park, the proposed location, is within her council district.

At the mayor’s State of the City speech Monday, Young was non-committal on the subject.

“I’ll probably have to study it some more,” she said.

FYI: A dog park is a fenced-in area, about an acre in size, where dogs can run off the leash. If funds permit, you can add benches and a water fountain. Also, there’s already one up and running at Mehlig Park.

A GOP census?

U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly, D-Granger, recently was miffed when a mailing purporting to collect information for a “National Census of Senior Citizens” made the rounds in his district.

Fine print on the mailer indicated the group sending it out, Our Generation Inc., Frederick, Md., was a 501(c)4 organization, the tax designation given to many political action groups.

Wednesday, Donnelly and fellow irritated House members got some payback on the mysterious “faux census” mailer people. Lawmakers passed new rules for any mailings bearing the word “census.”

The Associated Press followed the story:

“Earlier this year, the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee, the House GOP campaign arm, put out letters that were labeled ‘census document.’ The mailings made a plea for money along with a form asking voters to identify their political leanings and top issues.”

The House bill passed in bipartisan fashion, 416-0.

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